Heavy rain causes minor flooding in Genesee County, closing one road

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Heavy rain that has fallen in Genesee County since Tuesday, April 9, has caused little serious flooding, closing just one road by mid-day Wednesday, April 10.

The only report of a road under water was on Lavelle Road, said John Daly, manager-director of the Genesee
County Road Commission.

Crews have been out monitoring roadways and any road that is flooded will be closed off, Daly said.

The National Weather Service late Wednesday morning issued a flood warning for the Flint River in Flint and Kearsley Creek in Davison, saying minor flooding was forecast. More heavy rain and possibly a thunderstorm will be likely for the area, with a half to three-quarters of an inch possible for Wednesday night.

Thursday might be no different, with a 90 percent chance of precipitation and new rainfall amounts between three quarters of an inch and an inch. The rainfall is expected to continue into Friday with a 50 percent chance of rain and snow showers.

Both Daly and Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright said contributing to the high water in rivers is that the city of Flint opened its dams, which has raised the levels of the Flint River and drainage systems.

Wright said he didn't have specific reports of major flooding in areas of the county, but there have been reports of localized flooding.

Crews are monitoring drains and will determine if flooding is under the authority of the local municipality, county or state, Wright said.

Some of the state watercourses also need to be cleared of some debris, which can also create some of the flooding, he said.

"We haven't gotten any reports of mass flooding," he said, calling the rain that has hit the area since Tuesday "substantial."